System and method of controlling dust and/or odors with a blower unit and a deployable baffle member

ABSTRACT

A system and method for controlling dust and/or odors comprises a blower unit and baffle member deployed downstream of the blower unit. The blower unit comprises a fan propelled mister with a discharge tube and a fan disposed in the discharge tube adapted for drawing air into the discharge tube and creating a high velocity air flow exiting therefrom. The discharge tube has a plurality of nozzles and a fluid source is placed in communication with the nozzles such that the nozzles discharge fluid particles that are entrained in a high velocity air flow exiting from the discharge tube distal end. A baffle member is deployed downstream of the blower unit at an elevation above the blower unit so as to alter a flow path of ambient air flowing through a discharge path of the blower unit.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure herein relates in general to systems and methods forsuppressing dust and/or odors by using a blower unit and a baffle memberdeployed downstream of the blower unit that creates ambient airconditions in the discharge path of blower unit conducive for the mistdischarged from the blower unit to capture dust and/or odors particlesin the ambient air and settle and entrap the captured particles on theground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a blower unit inoperation in accordance with the principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the blower unit shown in FIG. 1 witha portion of a grate of a fan propelled mister of the blower unitcut-away to show internal components of the fan propelled mister;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the blower unit of FIG. 1showing a plurality of nozzles on a discharge end of the blower unitcreating a mist;

FIG. 4 shows the blower unit of FIG. 1 in operation with one embodimentof a baffle member deployed downstream of the blower unit to alter theambient air flow and create ambient air conditions in the discharge pathof the blower unit conducive for the mist discharged from the blowerunit to capture dust and/or odor particles contained in ambient air;

FIG. 5 shows the blower unit of FIG. 1 in operation with an alternateembodiment of the baffle member of FIG. 4 deployed downstream;

FIG. 6 shows the blower unit of FIG. 1 in operation with anotheralternate embodiment of the baffle member of FIG. 4 deployed downstream;

FIG. 7 shows the blower unit of FIG. 1 in operation with anotheralternate embodiment of the baffle member of FIG. 4 deployed downstream;and

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a baffle member,such as the baffle member shown in FIG. 6 or 7, with louvers and a dustcollection apparatus disposed in an interior of the baffle member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there isshown a blower unit generally indicated by reference character 10.Several uses and configurations of blower units are disclosed incommonly assigned patent applications currently pending, including U.S.application Ser. Nos. 11/383,293 and 11/966,568, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference. The blower unit as disclosedand claimed herein may have a configuration as disclosed in theseapplications or otherwise, for instance, the configuration described ingreater detail below. The blower unit 10 may have a base 12 and a frame14 for supporting a fan propelled mister 16. The blower unit may alsocomprise a control panel 17 to allow for the localized operation andcontrol of the device, and the frame may support auxiliary equipmentassociated with the blower unit such as a compressor and a dosing pump(both not shown). The base preferably includes a plurality of wheels 18that are rotatably connected to the base through an axle 20 located ator proximate to the front end of the base and an arm 22 located at orproximate to the rear of the base. While the base is shown as beinggenerally triangular in shape, a variety of shapes may also be used. Forinstance, the base may comprise any type of structure to or on which theblower unit is attached, including but not limited to, a crane, aplatform, a skid steer, or a post. In order to assist in moving theblower unit, a tow or push bar 26 may extend from the base, or a couplermember may extend outward from the base for attaching to a correspondingcoupling member on a tow vehicle (not shown). The tow or push bar mayalso be designed to contact the ground to provide additional support forthe device during operation. Additionally, the device may include posts28 having platforms 30 that are movably attached to the base to permitthe platforms to be slid in and out of contact with the ground toinhibit or facilitate movement of the device, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 2, the blower unit fan propelled mister 16 includes afan 32 having a hub 34 and a plurality of blades 36 within a housing 38.A grate or mesh 40 preferably covers the back of the housing and the fanto permit air but not large foreign objects to be drawn into the fanduring use. The housing of the fan propelled mister 16 preferablyincludes a discharge tube 42 to permit the generation of the highvelocity air flow from the fan through the fan propelled mister. A fanmotor (not shown) may be mounted in the housing, the hub or elsewherefor rotating the plurality of blades. Power may be supplied to the fanmotor in any number of ways, including, but not limited to: throughbatteries, connecting an electrical cord to an electrical outlet orother power source, or through an engine. A switch (not shown)electrically connected to the fan motor to permit the fan propelledmister to be selectively operated may be located on the control panel17.

As shown best in FIG. 3, a misting ring 44 having a plurality of nozzles46 is preferably attached or connected to the end of the discharge tube42. The nozzles 46 may be used to generate different sized fluid (e.g.,water) particles. Nozzles providing different sized fluid particles maybe alternated, or otherwise located about a single ring, or concentricrings each having different size nozzles. The nozzles may be made ofbrass, stainless steel or nylon, and may be sized as necessary for aparticular application. For instance, in order to control dust, thenozzles may generate water or mist particles wherein the water particlesfall within the range of 50 to 200 microns. The nozzles may also besized to control odor. It has been found that forming water or mistparticles that fall within the range of 15 microns or less are mostsuitable for controlling odors.

Fluid, such as but not limited to, water, is preferably supplied to themisting ring 44 through the use of a hose or a tube 48 that is connectedto a fluid source such as a water tank or outlet (not shown), forinstance, a standpipe or hydrant. The fluid flows through the mistingring 44 and out through the nozzles 46 in the form of a fine mist 50.The mist is introduced into the high velocity air flow and dischargedfrom the distal end of the discharge tube 42 into ambient air 60 wherethe water particles capture and/or combine with dust and/or odorparticles and fall to the ground. Water supplied to the blower unit maybe delivered first to a booster pump to boost the water pressure.Filters and straining devices may be placed in line with the watersource in the event potable water is not used. In order to furthercontrol dust, odors, and other contaminates, a sealant or surfactant maybe added to the water or fluid to enhance the sealant characteristics ofthe fluid to maintain entrapped odor or dust particles on the ground.

In order to cover a large area or an elevated area, the blower unit 10may be angled upwards into the ambient air 60. Accordingly, the frame 14of the blower unit may be adapted for permitting rotational and angularmovement of the distal end of the discharge tube. For instance, the base12 may include a “Y”-shaped or yoke shaped bracket 62 assembly extendingfrom the base with bifurcated arms 64 positioned on the sides of thedischarge tube 42. A pair of pins 66 may extend through the upper endsof the arms 64 and engage corresponding mounting plates 68 attached tothe side of the discharge tube. In order to maintain the blower unit ata desired angle, a second set of pins 69 may extend through the arms 64and into one of a plurality of spaced apart holes 67 on the mountingplates 68.

To create ambient air conditions that are further conducive to thedischarged mist 50 capturing dust and/or odors, and to further enhancethe sealant characteristics of the fluid to entrap and maintain thecaptured odor or dust particles on the ground, a baffle member 70 may bedeployed downstream of the blower unit to alter a flow path 72 of theambient air 60 flowing through the discharge path 80 of the blower unitand create ambient air conditions conducive to the fluid mist 50capturing dust and/odors and entrapping the captured dust and/or odorparticles on the ground, as discussed in greater detail below. As shownin FIGS. 4-7, a baffle member may comprise an inflatable objectpositioned at an elevation sufficiently above a ground level 90downstream of the discharge path 80 of the blower unit so as to alterthe flow 72 of the ambient air flowing past the discharge path of theblower unit. In one example, the baffle member may slow the flow path 72of ambient air flowing past the discharge path of the blower memberthereby allowing the fluid mist 50 discharged from the blower unit tocapture odor and/or dust particles in the ambient air and the fluidsealant characteristics of the fluid to entrap the captured odor and/ordust particles on the ground. In that regard, the baffle member may alsocause the ambient air flowing past the discharge path of the blower unitdownward to enhance the suppression and entrapment of dust and/or odorparticles on the ground. As will be described below, the baffle membermay be positioned at an elevation above the ground by supports,including poles and/or tethers, or the baffle member may be rigidlyconnected to the ground and extend a distance sufficiently above theground to alter the ambient air flow flowing past the discharge path ofthe blower unit.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a baffle member 70 comprising an integralkite portion 92 deployed downstream of and at an elevation above theground level 90 and blower unit 10. The position of the deployed bafflemember 70 is secured via foundation blocks 94 and a system of ropes 96.The material forming the baffle member may comprise parachute material,such as nylon, or other semi-permeable material, for instance, sailmaterial. To facilitate deploying the baffle member, the kite portion 92of the baffle member may comprise a ram edge 98 leading to internalbaffles 100 within the kite portion to allow the baffle member toinflate when the ram edge is positioned in a direction transverse to adirection of the ambient air flow. As shown in FIG. 4, the baffle memberhas a rear portion 102 integral with and extending between sidesportions 104 and below the kite portion. By deploying the baffle memberdownstream of and at an elevation above the blower unit, the ambient airflow 60 flowing past the discharge path 80 of the blower unit issufficiently slowed to create ambient air conditions that enhance theability of the fluid mist 50 to capture dust and/or odors and force thecaptured dust and/or odor particles to return to the ground 90. Thebaffle member also may physically block captured dust and/or odorparticles from proceeding downstream beyond the baffle member.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of a baffle member 110. In FIG. 5,the baffle member 110 comprises a separately deployable kite portion 112with a depending panel portion 114 that may be deployed in a directiontransverse to the direction of the ambient air flow 72 flowing past theblower unit once the kite portion is elevated as desired. In FIG. 5, thekite portion of the baffle member enables the panel portion to bedeployed at an elevation sufficient above the ground level 90 and blowerunit 10 to alter the ambient air flow path to create the necessaryambient air conditions to enhance the mist capturing the airborne dustand/or odor particles. The kite portion 112 may be formed with an openram edge 114 that is positioned transversely to the direction of ambientair flow so as to capture ambient air flow and inflate the kite portionby inflating internal baffles 116. The kite portion 112, and the panelportion 114 once deployed, may be securely positioned with tethers 118extending from foundation blocks 120.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of a baffle member 130 of FIG. 4comprising a tube-shaped member 132. As shown in FIG. 6, the tube-shapedmember 132 has an opening 134 that is aligned in a direction transverseto the direction of the ambient air flow 60 flowing past the discharge80 of the blower unit. The opening of the tube shaped member is sized toextend at elevation above the ground level 90 and blower unit 10sufficient to alter the ambient air flow path 72 to create the necessaryambient air conditions around the discharge path 80 of the blower unitto enhance the mist 50 capturing the airborne dust and/or odorparticles. To assist in deploying the baffle member, the tube-shapedmember may be provided with a ram edge leading to internal baffles sothat it may be inflated similar to the kite portion of the bafflemembers of FIGS. 4 and 5. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the bafflemember 130 may be deployed by inflating inflation passages 136 of thebaffle member through an external inflation device 138, such as a bloweror air pump. In FIG. 6, the opening 134 of the tube-shaped member hasthe inflation passages 136 extending around its periphery, and theexternal inflation device or blower 138 is aligned in communication withthe inflation passages to directed pressurized air or gas into theinflation passages and maintain the opening in an open position. Tomaintain the deployed tube-shaped member 134 in position, thetube-shaped member may be anchored with tethers or ropes 140 anchored tofoundation blocks 142. Louvers 144 may also extend across at least aportion of the opening of tube-shaped member to direct air flow into andthrough the tube-shaped member to main the tube-shaped member in aninflated and open condition. To prevent over-pressurizing the interiorof the tube-shaped member from transient ambient air conditions, reliefflaps 146 may be provided on the skin of the tube-shaped member. Thetube-shaped member 132 may also be tapered away from the opening tochannel ambient air flow to a rear portion of the tube-shaped member. InFIG. 6, the inflation passages may be made from an air-impermeablematerial while the remaining skin portion of the tube-shaped member maycomprise a semi-permeable, lightweight material such a sail, nylon orparachute material.

FIG. 7 shows an alternate embodiment of the baffle member 130 of FIG. 6where in addition to the external inflation device 138 pressurizing theinflation passages 136 disposed around the periphery of the opening 134of the tube-shaped member 132, the opening is maintained in the openposition with supports 148, for instance, telescopic or tent-like poles.As before, the opening of the tube shaped member 132 is sized to extendat elevation above the ground level 90 and blower unit 10 sufficient toalter the ambient air flow path 60 to create the necessary ambient airconditions around the discharge path 80 of the blower unit to enhancethe mist 50 capturing the airborne dust and/or odor particles.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a baffle member 130 such as thatshown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Two inflation passages 152 are provided aboutthe periphery of the opening 134 of the tube-shaped member 132 andinflated by way of the external inflation device 138 aligned incommunication with the inflation passages. The louvers 144 extend acrossan interior 154 of the tube-shaped member to direct a portion of theambient air flow 60 to the rear portion of the tube-shaped member toassist in maintaining the baffle member inflated and the opening of thetube shaped member open. A filtration 156 unit is provided in theinterior of the baffle unit to collect dust and/or odor particles notentrapped on the ground 90, but otherwise carried into the interior ofthe tube-shaped member by the ambient air flow.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectivewithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts disclosed herein,but it is understood that this application is limited only by the scopeof the appended claims.

1. A method comprising: providing a ducted fan blower unit comprising abase, a frame extending upward from the base, and a fan propelled misterattached to the frame, the fan propelled mister comprising a dischargetube and a fan disposed in the discharge tube adapted for drawing airinto the discharge tube and creating a high velocity airflow exitingfrom the discharge tube, the discharge tube having a plurality ofnozzles at its a distal end; placing a fluid source in communicationwith the nozzles such that the nozzles discharge fluid particles fromthe discharge tube distal end; operating the ducted fan blower unit todischarge from the discharge tube distal end the fluid particlesentrained in the high velocity airflow; and deploying a baffle memberdownstream of the blower unit at an elevation above the blower unit soas to alter a flow path of ambient air flowing through a discharge pathof the blower unit and creating an ambient air condition conducive tothe fluid particles capturing at least one of dust and odors andpositioning the baffle member to slow the ambient air flow, the alteredflow path of ambient air being located between the distal end of thedischarge tube and the baffle member.
 2. The method of claim 1 whereinthe step of deploying the baffle member comprises inflating the bafflemember.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the baffle member hasinflatable passages inflatable from an externally powered inflationsource.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the baffle member hasinflatable passages inflatable from the ambient air flow.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles comprises a first pluralityof nozzles for creating small fluid particles of a first size and asecond plurality of nozzles for creating small fluid particles of asecond size.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioningthe baffle member to direct ambient airflow downward.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the baffle member comprises a tube shaped member; andthe step of deploying the baffle member further comprises aligning anopening of the tube shaped member in a direction transverse to adirection of the ambient air flow.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein thebaffle member is tapered away from the opening.
 9. The method of claim7, further comprising deploying filtering elements in an interior of thetube shaped member.
 10. The method of claim 7, further comprisingdeploying louvering elements in an interior of the tube shaped member.11. The method of claim 7, further comprising deploying supports in thetube shaped member interior to maintain the tube member opening open.12. A combination comprising: a ducted fan blower unit comprising abase, a frame extending upward from the base, and a fan propelled misterattached to the frame, the fan propelled mister comprising a dischargetube and a fan disposed in the discharge tube adapted for drawing airinto the discharge tube and creating a high velocity airflow exitingfrom the discharge tube, the discharge tube having a plurality ofnozzles at its a distal end, the nozzles adapted to discharge fluidparticles when the nozzles are placed in communication with a fluidsource; and a baffle member comprising a tube shaped member with anopening, the baffle member adapted to be deployed downstream of theblower unit at an elevation above the blower unit with ambient airlocated between the distal end of the discharge tube and the bafflemember, the baffle member having sufficient size and air permeability soas to alter ambient airflow flowing past a discharge path of the blowerunit and create an ambient air condition conducive to the fluidparticles capturing at least one of dust and odors, and filter elementsdisposed in an interior of the tube shaped member.
 13. The combinationof claim 12, wherein the baffle member comprises inflatable passages.14. The combination of claim 13, further comprising an externallypowered inflation source for inflating the inflatable passages.
 15. Thecombination of claim 13, wherein the inflatable passages are arranged onthe baffle member so as to be inflatable from the ambient air flow. 16.The combination of claim 12, wherein the plurality of nozzles comprisesa first plurality of nozzles for creating small fluid particles of afirst size and a second plurality of nozzles for creating small fluidparticles of a second size.
 17. The combination of claim 12, wherein thebaffle member is tapered away from the opening.
 18. The combination ofclaim 12, further comprising louvering elements disposed in an interiorof the tube shaped member.
 19. The combination of claim 12, furthercomprising supports disposed in the tube interior to maintain the tubemember opening open.
 20. A method comprising: providing a ducted fanblower unit comprising a base, a frame extending upward from the base,and a fan propelled mister attached to the frame, the fan propelledmister comprising a discharge tube and a fan disposed in the dischargetube adapted for drawing air into the discharge tube and creating a highvelocity airflow exiting from the discharge tube, the discharge tubehaving a plurality of nozzles at its a distal end; placing a fluidsource in communication with the nozzles such that the nozzles dischargefluid particles from the discharge tube distal end; operating the ductedfan blower unit to discharge from the discharge tube distal end thefluid particles entrained in the high velocity airflow; inflating abaffle member; and deploying the baffle member downstream of the blowerunit at an elevation above the blower unit so as to alter a flow path ofambient air flowing through a discharge path of the blower unit andcreating an ambient air condition conducive to the fluid particlescapturing at least one of dust and odors and positioning the bafflemember to slow the ambient air flow.
 21. A combination comprising: aducted fan blower unit comprising a base, a frame extending upward fromthe base, and a fan propelled mister attached to the frame, the fanpropelled mister comprising a discharge tube and a fan disposed in thedischarge tube adapted for drawing air into the discharge tube andcreating a high velocity airflow exiting from the discharge tube, thedischarge tube having a plurality of nozzles at its a distal end, thenozzles adapted to discharge fluid particles when the nozzles are placedin communication with a fluid source; and a baffle member comprising atube shaped member with an opening and inflatable passages, the bafflemember adapted to be deployed downstream of the blower unit at anelevation above the blower unit, the baffle member having sufficientsize and air permeability so as to alter ambient airflow flowing past adischarge path of the blower unit and create an ambient air conditionconducive to the fluid particles capturing at least one of dust andodors, and filter elements disposed in an interior of the tube shapedmember.